Posts Tagged With: Parable of the Sower

Earlier this week I was looking back through an old journal of mine (before I was willing to share my writing with others) from 2006. Interestingly, I found that on this very date six years ago I was meditating on the Parable of the Sower from today’s passage. I share here now what I wrote six years ago.

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How did these soils get this way? The simple answer is that each soil had an owner that created its condition, and in this parable the owner clearly is not God.

The “pathway” heart-soil has become hardened by the actions and choices of the owner and others. Pathways are picked by an owner as soil that will purposely be trampled upon and rendered incapable of sustaining a crop. Then these paths are worn through repeated use. The owner directs others to use that same pathway, and trespassers will even use a path if available. Habitual sin, misuse of our bodies and souls with others, and even unwanted abuse harden our hearts so that we will not listen to God’s word of truth. We chose to use what was created to be pure and fruitful in degrading and harmful ways or — in one of those hard to rectify speeches of the Lord — others are allowed to snatch away from us, through abuse, the hope and love and truth we so desperately need.

The “rocky” heart-soil has not been prepared for the long growing season. Whether from laziness or a desire to see an immediate result from his plantings, the farmer has failed to dig out the rocks that will stunt the growth of his immature plants, causing them to wither in the hot, dry summer months. These plants are simply unable to reach the deep reservoirs of water below the rocks. When we move too quickly from one spiritual high to another, trading an emotional high for the disciplines and experiences that really mature faith in the dry heat of suffering and divine silence, we produce heart-soil in which the fledgling sprouts of faith will also quickly wither. In today’s world, our greatest obstacle to the deep reservoir of Spirit-water is our hunger for immediate gratification. We are content to soak up the jolt of a worship experience but refuse to learn to control one’s anger.

The owner of the “thorny” heart-soil has also failed to prepare his land for successful growth. The owner did not pull up the faster-growing, hardier thorns, allowing them to compete with the more tender grain shoots; this owner has simply tried to sow a new crop amongst existing plants. Given that the thorns are identified as “worries” but also “riches and pleasures” it would seem that some of these thorns have intentionally been left to live alongside the grain shoots. Both grain and thorns receive rain, nutrients, and sunlight, allowing competition to arise, but the thorns thrive. When we fail to uproot the attitudes, desires, and behaviors contrary to the Way of Christ attempting only to add Christ to an already hardy life of worry, excess, and selfishness, our immature faith will flounder under the competition. The Spirit will not live in a divided heart.

The owner of the “good, pure” heart-soil has prepared his plot with wisdom, effort, and patience. He has removed the rocks and thorns, and loosened any packed soil before planting. He tucked the seed into the soil away from the birds. His plants will find moisture and room to grow deep. His plants will remain free from competition. We enrich our heart-soil for bountiful growth when we break the bonds of habitual sin; when we use our bodies and souls as they were intended; when we avoid abuse (to the degree we can); when we realize crop preparation is a time-intensive, long-term endeavor; when we patiently foster disciplines that feed our faith and cherish faith-stretching experiences; when we replace worry with trust; and when we uproot a life of selfish ambition and carnal gratification.

I absolutely love the parables. They are most certainly my favorite form of literature in the gospels. Matthew has packed this chapter full of them.

They are wonderful word pictures, for those of us who are more visual than verbal. They pack meaning for those of us who like a good symbol. They are memorable and popular. They also teach fantastic lessons about life and how to live life. But first and foremost, parables tell us about life in God’s kingdom.

The kingdom of heaven is like . . .

a farmer sowing wheat on various kinds of soil with differing results

a field of wheat maliciously oversown by weeds that has to wait to be weeded out then harvested

a mustard seed that grows of a mere speck to a large, useful shrub

leaven that works its way throughout an entire pot of flour

a priceless treasure one might stumble upon in a field but then that’s worth selling everything you have to buy

a pearl hunter who sells off his fortune when he finds the biggest and best pearl ever

a net that gathers all sorts of fish that will have to be sorted out later

Some pieces of art or music or literature are just better appreciated in their original state without much explanation. I do believe that is often true of the parables. So, today I am running the risk of ruining great art. Please forgive. What is Jesus saying about the kingdom in these parables?

The kingdom of heaven is mysterious: There is no telling when we will brush up against true Kingdom. We might be in the middle of our everyday tasks and run upon a move of God that is unlike anything we have ever seen before. We might simply be walking home, and over there in the corner of a yard under a tree, where we least expected it, will be something more valuable than anything we have. We just thought it was another hum-drum day, but this is the day that changes our life.

The kingdom of heaven is valuable: In a world that often lacks any substance or value, when we find God’s Kingdom, we will do anything to have it. It is worth more than anything we presently have. We know this is something real and valuable. It might necessitate a relocation or a restructuring of our life, but we will gladly do it. There will be sacrifices, but they are small in comparison.

The kingdom of heaven grows abundantly: The Kingdom usually starts in humble beginnings. We might look at it and say this won’t amount to much, but often that is exactly where God plants the seeds of His Kingdom and they grow into something that is so much bigger than what we could do ourselves. And those pursuits bring help and nourishment to others.

The kingdom of heaven is messy: This isn’t going to go smoothly. God is working to advance His Kingdom in this world, but there are powers of evil and darkness that want the same soul-territory. Right alongside Kingdom will be anti-kingdom. There are people who will swallow up any seed of hope we might plant in another person. “The world’s worries and the seduction of wealth” choke our devotion like thorns and strong weeds (13:22). Purification and complete rescue won’t come until the end.

Those with ears to hear and eyes to see will know where Jesus is coming from. Others won’t. For some Jesus is just too familiar. But those who do hear and see are more blessed than even the prophets of old (13:16-17).